Trying out Lena's new off-road track: First Dirt City Duel draws a crowd of 10,000
Kent Tempus
LENA – The inaugural races at the new off-road race track last weekend were "above expectations," according to Lena Motorsports Club Board President Don Demeny.
"It was above and beyond what we had hoped for," he said. "We really thank the community for checking it out."
The only shortcoming was attendance, which Demeny said totaled 10,000 and included folks who showed up in downtown Lena Friday night to see drivers and their vehicles.
The board had been looking to attract 15,000 people.
Despite the turnout, the event was praised by Jay Schaefer of Crandon, who raced in the Heavy Metal Challenge feature event and assisted with communications in the spotter tower.
"For a first time out, to have as few bugs as they did, and have things running so smoothly, and to have this big of a crowd at a sportsmen event is phenomenal," Schaefer said.
Still, Demeny said that the hill for spectators was "about at the limit" on Saturday. Dozens of RVs and campers also arrived, filling every space for the weekend.
"We're going to start planning for more area for camping and spectators," Demeny said.
Other projects will include adding more roads and more gravel in the camping areas, as well as planting green areas around the track.
As for the racing, Schaefer said he was very pleased with the course, which he called "fun."
"From my standpoint, I didn't think I'd like the split lane, but I like it a lot," he said. "It adds an interesting wrinkle to a lap."
The split lane starts on the second turn, where drivers can take one of two lanes that run nearly a quarter mile to the next turn.
Tim Beauchamp, whose son Trey was racing, had some doubts about the course at first but was pleased. Trey led his Super Stock division for the first three-quarters of the race on Saturday.
"We thought it was going to be a demolition derby, but it's much better than that," he said. "It turned out quite nice."
Demeny noted that more than 100 people volunteered for a variety of tasks, from organizing parking in the field across the roadway, to ticket sales, food preparation and sales, track maintenance and more.
The not-for-profit track was constructed last fall and this spring, primarily by volunteers. The facility would have cost an estimated $1 million, but 90% of the work — including earth moving, concrete, gravel, fencing and electrical service — was donated.
Other costs were covered by about $100,000 raised from more than 200 charter members.
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Contact Kent Tempus at (920) 431-8226 or ktempus@gannett.com.